Jill Archives - Grateful Prayer

End of Year Wrap-up

By Lorraine

As the year draws to a close I’m trying to catch up by posting activities and memory-making moments with and for family. It’s been a busy and full couple of months. My heart overflows. Hard to imagine that less than five months ago I had a total hip replacement.Continue Reading

A week with Shaela

By Lorraine

We spent a long weekend visiting our daughter in upstate NY while her husband, Brad was in Massachusetts doing a two-week intense study as he works toward his school administration certificate. The five hour drive can become boring but not with a spectacular sunset.

Hawaiian Pasta Salad

By Lorraine

Hawaiian Pasta Salad, brightly colored with an abundance of crisp veggies makes a perfect summer salad. It is a hearty one too, with the tortellini and diced ham. I served it at a graduation party as a side dish but it would be a great entrée served with crusty bread (and maybe a glass of wine) for a lovely summer supper.Continue Reading

My Soul Finds Rest

By Lorraine

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

Romans 8:26-28

We’ve faced much sadness these past weeks yet we take hold of the hope set before us and we are greatly encouraged.

Our longtime friend and the mother of our son-in-law lost her battle with cancer. A precious lady who loved the Lord with all of her heart and left a beautiful legacy not only with her family but with all that knew her.

Those who went to the cemetery were given a small envelope containing a butterfly. They were released after pastor spoke. Someone placed a butterfly on the flower headband worn by baby Joelle. Jamie posted this on fb:

This little sweetheart is the niece of our other son-in-law. This 14-month beautiful girl was recently diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer and has begun chemo to shrink the mass before surgery to remove it. Prayers for Emma and her Mommy and Daddy are greatly appreciated!

The only sibling of Abbey’s best friend lost his life in a car accident. Just 20 years old, Dan was to be Abbey’s escort at his sister Vicki’s wedding next year. I can’t imaging the difficult journey this family now must walk.

Friday night we made a hard decision. As Raider’s Sick Sinus Syndrome had progressed, he began having labored, rapid breathing and became tuckered out even with little exertion. On Thursday, he laid on me and I rocked him, silently thinking in my heart that he would just stop breathing and his heart would cease beating and he would die peacefully. We talked with the veterinarian and learned that his breathing difficulties would not be peaceful and left it that we would contact her Sunday morning. As we were getting ready for bed Friday night, it was apparent he was in distress and prolonging his life made no sense so we left for a final car ride just as we did 14 years ago with our dog, Scotty.

We returned home with an empty collar and a sweet paw print that was made for us by the veterinarian staff and a heart full of memories of my sweet boy.

Even amid all of the heartache, the Lord never leaves us and pours out his mercy and grace.

Here are some happy moments from the past few weeks.

Jill, Brad and family visited for a week. They returned home and then Jill and two of the kids came back for the funeral.

Cambrie lost her two front teeth

Silas celebrated his 10th birthday

Keri received an Excellence in Character award

Braden loved hand feeding Raider

Keri went to Take your child to work day with her PopPop

My daughter, Jill (one of the twins) took me to dinner for Mother’s Day Monday evening. It was super special to spend time just with her!

And Abbey and I enjoyed a great lunch after church on Mother’s Day.

May 15th is the 10th anniversary of my dad’s passing. I am so thankful for his sincere response to the call of the Lord to be his savior.

Finally, in my near future, I will be having a total hip replacement. Not scheduled yet because I have had too much on my plate. It takes 6-8 weeks to prepare for surgery and you can be sure I will be requesting prayer for this!

Yes, my soul, find rest in God; my hope comes from him.

Psalm 62:5

Potato and Ham Soup

By Lorraine

When plans to be out for the day suddenly changed and I found I had nothing pressing to do, I knew immediately what I wanted. I called my sister and was thrilled she was able to come for a visit. We chatted, caught up on family, laughed and ate a light lunch of potato and Ham Soup while Jared, Abbey, Erin and John popped in and out.

snippets of family and friends

By Lorraine

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

Edith Sitwell

This sweet home is where our daughter, Jamie and husband Josh and family now live, love and grow. They moved in just before the holidays and are enjoying a lovely, spacious house that more than accommodates their large family.

baby #8 is due in March 🙂

above photos by Nathan Lawrensen Photography

Upstate NY twin, Jill, husband Brad and their precious four.

Youngest daughter, Abbey feeling better after losing her car in a traffic accident. She was hit from behind while sitting at a traffic light and forced into the cars in front of her.

The bottom left photo is Abbey and our oldest grandson, Jared, taken by dear, sweet blogging friend Judy (Just a Little Something for You).

A delightful visit from Judy and her husband, John, who came bearing delicious treats, pretty plates, exciting cookbook, warm smiles, loving hearts and leaving us happy and thankful for very special friends.

A pic with my brother as we celebrated a loved nephews birthday.

visiting grand kids

warm inside ~ cold outside

a surprise party celebrating my aunts 75th birthday

warm by the hearth

Birthday time

By Lorraine

It is birthday time. My sweetheart just had a birthday and I made him a cake to celebrate. A dark, chocolaty cake with peanut butter frosting, ganache drizzled on top and down the sides then sprinkled with chopped snickers bars.Continue Reading

It’s Official!

By Lorraine

Welcoming this precious little boy into our family!

Our daughter Jill and husband, Brad are thrilled to finalize the adoption of

Braden Emery

as he officially becomes part of their family

Unable to share anything about Braden (his new name) and his first two years of life, it is with joy I can now post photos.

This little bundle entered the world at just 1-pound 10-ounces and when he finally left the hospital he went right into the hearts and home of Jill and Brad via foster care joining Ryan, Brenna and Shaela.

With their love, care and nurturing he began to grow and grow.

Loved by his PopPop (and smiling happily as he joins his siblings and cousins, the tradition of being photographed in John’s Christening outfit)

such a cutie-pie!

Adoption Day

after the many long and difficult and ofttimes uncertain days…

~ they are family ~
A Thousand Years
Christina Perri

(Verse 1)
Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave
How can I love when I’m afraid
To fall
But watching you stand alone
All of my doubt
Suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

(Chorus)
I have died every day
waiting for you
Darlin’ don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more

(Verse 2)
Time stands still
beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything
Take away
What’s standing in front of me
Every breath,
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

(Chorus)
I have died every day
Waiting for you
Darlin’ don’t be afraid
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more

And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

(Chorus)
I have died every day
Waiting for you
Darlin’ don’t be afraid,
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more

And all along I believed
I would find you
Time has brought
Your heart to me
I have loved you for a
Thousand years
I’ll love you for a
Thousand more

We made the drive with Jill’s twin sister, Jamie (center photo) and her two youngest children, Chloe and Jethro, leaving Thursday afternoon and returning Sunday night. It was chilly and rainy and by the end of the weekend all of the kids were feverish and feeling poorly. Jamie is making settlement this morning and moving into a new (to them) home while we hope none of us get sick from the house (and car) full of germs!

Family Moments

By Lorraine

Jill came down from upstate New York to participate in The Love Run Philadelphia Half Marathon with her twin sister and a good friend, Megan.

in front of the Philadelphia Art Museum

Jamie and Jill before the run on a brisk morning

Finished!

The boys stayed at Jamie’s house and the girls stayed at my house. After making the bunny cake, they dyed Easter Eggs…

experimented with the colors…

and techniques…

admired their creations…

then promptly decided to eat their masterpieces!

someone liked them…

someone didn’t

I went to my computer for a time while the girls played all about the house. I heard them scampering in and out of the garage, upstairs and down. They yelled to me they were playing dress-up. This is what I found! Quite an able crew, don’t you think!

Then popcorn and a movie before bed

after all that baking and cleaning it’s hard for wee ones to stay awake

Earlier this month, our oldest grandson was inducted into the Latin Honor Society. After the ceremony, we had a fun dinner at a nearby restaurant.

{ah, how I love this young man}

Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos

By Lorraine

I wanted to send my daughter and family and their sweet friends off with a hearty breakfast before their long drive home but I didn’t want to waste moments in the kitchen that could be spent enjoying their visit. A make-ahead breakfast helped out.

Jill, Brad and kids along with their good friends and their three sons drove here from upstate New York, spent the night, then flew to Florida for their dream vacation at Disney. After their return flight, they all stayed over again. Because they are not able to get (real) Philly cheese steaks and pizza at home, their request was to get take-out for dinner from our favorite restaurant. It took a trek through eight-inches of fresh snow and freezing temperatures to pick up three pizza’s and ten cheese steaks to fill up the twenty-four people gathered together.

Breakfast the next morning included Breakfast Burritos, Blueberry Boy Bait cake and Baked Oatmeal.

The Breakfast Burritos, made the day before, were stacked in a dish, covered with plastic wrap and placed in the refrigerator. At serving time, I removed the plastic wrap and warmed them in the microwave at 60% power until heated through.

Leftover burritos were wrapped individually and placed in the freezer. Directions below for reheating instructions.

Make-Ahead Breakfast Burritos

source: Taste of Home

PRINT RECIPE

Ingredients

1 pound Jimmy Dean® Premium Pork Sausage Roll
1-1/2 cups frozen cubed hash brown potatoes
1/4 cup diced onion
1/4 cup diced green or red pepper
4 eggs, lightly beaten
12 flour tortillas (8 inches), warmed
1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese
Picante sauce or salsa (optional)
sour cream (optional)

Directions
In a large skillet, cook sausage over medium heat until no longer pink; drain. Add the potatoes, onion and pepper; cook and stir for 6-8 minutes or until tender. Add eggs; cook and stir until set.

Spoon filling off center on each tortilla. Sprinkle with cheese. Fold sides and ends over filling and roll up. Serve with picante sauce or salsa and sour cream, if desired.

To freeze and reheat burritos: Wrap each burrito in waxed paper and foil. Freeze for up to 1 month. To use, remove foil and waxed paper. Place one burrito on a microwave-safe plate. Microwave on high for 2 to 2-1/4 minutes or until a meat thermometer reads 165°, turning burrito over once. Let stand for 20 seconds.
Yield: 12 burritos.

Blueberry Boy Bait is a yummy cake any time and it also freezes well. I baked one the day before and refrigerated. Here is the link for the Blueberry Boy Bait recipe.

I didn’t make the Baked Oatmeal ahead but did gather the ingredients together for quicker preparation in the morning. Here is the link for the Baked Oatmeal recipe.

After a long drive, a week of non-stop vacation, running and playing with cousins, the kids spent some less physical time on their devices as the grown-ups chatted. No doubt this generation is connected, comfortable and capable using technology!

After breakfast, they were off on the last leg of their journey. They arrived home safe and sound but not quite ready for…

Grandmom Elsie’s Graham Cracker Pie

By Lorraine

Foods from childhood can evoke wonderful memories not just because we love the taste but also because it is associated with special people or events. Do you have a favorite dessert from your childhood?

My husband remembers his grandmom Elsie making Graham Cracker Pie for nearly every backyard cookout. It is really a humble pie of creamy vanilla pudding poured into a pre-baked graham cracker crust. Often times the pie is topped with meringue so the unused egg whites aren’t wasted. Grandmon preferred lightly sweetened whipped cream sprinkled with additional graham cracker crumbs.

Elsie Rebekah

I imagine Grandmom Elsie baked lots of pies in her day as she and her husband raised eight children.

John (on right with baby on his shoulders), his brother on left with Grandmom Elsie and Grandpop.

Here she is holding my twin babies (her great-grandchildren) as she told me of her own twin sons born many years prior.

Grandmom Elsie’s

Graham Cracker Pie

PRINT RECIPE

GRAHAM CRACKER CRUST

1 1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs

1/4 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter, melted

In a bowl, mix crumbs, sugar and butter together. If desired, reserve 2 to 3 tablespoons crumb mixture for topping. Using the back of a fork or the bottom of a measuring cup, press remaining mixture firmly and evenly against the bottom and side of pie pan. Bake at 350° for 10 minutes. Cool

VANILLA CREAM FILLING

2/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 cups milk

4 egg yolks, slightly beaten

2 tablespoons butter, softened

1 tablespoon +1 teaspoon vanilla

whipped cream for topping finished pie

Stir together, sugar, cornstarch and salt in sauce pan. Blend milk and egg yolks; gradually stir into sugar mixture. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until mixture thickens and boils. Boil and stir one minute. Remove from heat; blend in butter and vanilla. Immediately pour into baked pie shell; press plastic wrap on to filling. Chill pie thoroughly, at least two hours.

When pie is completely cool, top with whipped cream. Sprinkle with remaining graham cracker crumbs. Refrigerate any unused portion.

love…

By Lorraine

the following photos were taken by a talented young photographer named Rebecca and posted on her blog

brimful

She shared a very sweet post (and many more photos) about this family.

It warmed this mama’s heart

❤

Cherry Blueberry Fruit Bars

By Lorraine

Easy recipe for homemade fruit bars baked in a sheet pan and drizzled with frosting using cherry and/or blueberry pie filling.

We love these cherry and blueberry fruit bars! They are easy and quick to prepare, yummy and so pretty! Continue Reading

A Day with Brenna

By Lorraine

Last month, I got a text from my daughter, Jill..

I couldn’t say no to a special request like that!

So, I asked my daughter, Jamie, if I could take little Cambrie for company during my drive up north.

The day before our trip, I picked up a very excited little girl.

That evening, a less than excited little girl decided she really needed her mom so I drove her back home.

Early the next morning, she changed her mind and so I drove back to her house and we got on the road together.

Because she drank all of her apple juice too quickly and we had to stop at the Allentown rest stop.

When she saw the sign there, she realized she needed Auntie Anne’s cinnamon pretzels for the rest of the journey.

While I spent the next day with Brenna, Aunt Jill took Cammie to Build*A*Bear and then out for lunch.

Brenna-Bean and I boarded the school bus, with lots of other 3rd graders, that drove us to Syracuse and the MoST (Museum of Science and Technology)

I have to say, this part of central New York did not get the memo that it is officially SPRING evident by the cold, the snow and the ice that I had to scrape from the car and drive through.

While visiting, Ryan showed me that he too, like his cousin, Jared has learned the algorithms and can solve the Rubik’s Cube

Before our homeward bound journey, Aunt Jill took us out for breakfast.

(and then she kindly followed me to a gas station and helped me fill my car tank, since this Jersey Girl has only pumped her own gasoline a few times e v e r!)

~Cambrie (hugging Build*A*Bear) and I made the 300+ mile drive home with NO stops~

and guess who cried because she didn’t want to go home

🙂

Last night the phone rang and when I answered, this is what I saw…

Brenna and Shae! A face to face video phone call ~ so fun!

then a text

❤

Thank YOU, Brenna! Mom-Mom loves you!

Double Birthday Party Dinner

By Lorraine

Wrapping up a whirlwind Christmas holiday with our extended family last night was the perfect ending to Jill and Brad’s visit.
Since many of our family members don’t get to see them very often and since two really awesome guys are having birthdays, we got together to celebrate.

Happy Birthday Joe (our nephew) and Brad (our son-in-law)!

These two little girls became instant best friends forever.
Does anyone know the genealogical relationship between children that share the same great-grandparents (their grandparents are sisters) ?
Cambrie is my grandchild and Olivia is my sisters grandchild ~ I think that makes them second cousins?